Once a Potter, Always a Potter

by WarMunger98

Harry is not the only Potter left. He was lucky enough to have a little sister born just before James and Lily were murdered. Follow their journey through Hogwarts and beyond as the tackle love, mystery and a war. They will meet new friends and be reunited with lost family. M for violence, language and later sexual situations/scenes. Hinny. Slowly updating.

19. The Plot Thickens

Hey folks! I know it's been a hot minute since my last update, and I also know I said I'd be writing more since we've all been cooped up inside. Unfortunately, there's been a number of factors stopping me from updating, University and work being the main ones. I did however have a rather significant event occur in my life within the last couple of months though, that being the ending of my relationship with someone very special to me. It's taken me awhile to get over that. Once again, I won't make any promises for updating in the future, but hopefully I can bash out another chapter within this year at least. The next few chapters should be easier to write as I've had the ideas floating around in my head for a while. Enjoy this rather larger chapter though. The last scene was hard to adapt out of the book so I've tried my best to be original but there are just some things that you can't avoid. Anyway, enjoy this update, and I will see you all soon!

The Plot thickens: Chapter 19

Snow banks continued to pile up as Boxing day arrived and departed in Britain. For the Potters, the rest of their holidays were rather subdued, even the presence of Hermione couldn't warm their spirits. The Bushy haired brunette had enquired about what had occurred at Christmas, whilst Ron and herself were visiting the Evan's residence.

"That doesn't sound like Ginny at all. I wonder what brought that on." Hermione thought out loud to herself.

"Well whatever the case is, she's been grounded for weeks." Ron explained, "Mum had absolute kittens after…well after what Ginny said. She was so embarrassed. But Ginny just kept screaming and arguing back. Mum ended up having to cast a silencing charm on her and locking the door. She's been up in her room ever since."

Harry, who'd been listening intently, frowned when he heard this. "She's not even allowed outside?"

"Well, mum and dad let her out to do chores in the garden and obviously for meals and to go to the bathroom, but no playtime at all. She hasn't complained though, she sort of just…sits there…glaring." Ron shuddered a little.

Frowning, Harry let his eyes go downcast as he thought about the girl he knew before. This new Ginny didn't sound anything like the girl who normally made his heart feel on fire. The way she acted on Christmas eve; he could've sworn she was possessed by a demon.

"So how was your Christmas Hermione?" Rose spoke up, trying to move the conversation away from their own experiences.

"Oh, it was rather boring honestly. Mum and Dad made me go along to one of their friend's house for Christmas dinner. I felt a little like a show dog honestly, my mum saying how proud she was of me and how well I'm going at school." Hermione sighed, "Of course, I can't tell anyone I'm a Witch. So, the story is that I'm going to a very prestigious boarding school up in Scotland."

"I mean, that's pretty much the truth isn't it." Harry laughed.

Smiling to her friend, Hermione joined in on the laughter. "Yes, I suppose you're right. But I doubt the 'Inverness Royal Scottish Academy for Girls' teaches you how to turn parrots into silver goblets."

"That's what your 'fake' school is called? Gore, what a mouthful." Ron chuckled.

Enjoying their time together, Hermione eventually had to leave them all to return back home. The next time they'd see her would be on the platform at Kings Cross. Watching his two best friends let their farewell hugs linger a little too long, Harry couldn't help but think about Ginny's words from a few days ago, about Ron liking Hermione. It was an odd thought, but one that certainly didn't offend him. Of course, thinking about Ginny made Harry think about Christmas. A frown appeared on his face, giving away his feelings. Only Rose knew his true feelings though, only she knew that he wasn't upset at Ginny, rather upset about her…upset that something was wrong with her. Ron and Hermione though mistook it as anger at the youngest Weasley.

The rest of the Christmas holidays was spent mainly at home for the Potters. Harry had taken to exercising with Sirius in the morning, trying to develop his rather scrawny body. With all the food that both Hogwarts and his grandmother had been pumping into him, Harry was already beginning to finally get some meat on his bones, as was Rose. It was an odd thought to the two Potter siblings, about how differently their lives had become since they were rescued from the Dursley's. Who knew what their lives would've been like if they were forced to stay there, what horrors they would have to go through? For all they knew, they could've died that night if Dumbledore hadn't intervened. That had been a growing point of contention between Rose and Harry. Both siblings disagreed whether or not Dumbledore had their best interests at heart. Rose was adamant that Dumbledore was a foolish old man that had only thought short sightedly. Harry argued that he was only human, making human mistakes, and that his actions to date had redeemed him from those mistakes. Even though they argued, the pair never raised their voices at each other, not like the night when they had come back from school. Instead they kept their discussions civil, only sometimes allowing heat to enter them.

Despite their arguments, Rose and Harry had clung to each other in such a time of uncertainty. The thought of going back to school was now making them rather nervous, uncertain of the future. Even though Harry swore to protect her, Rose new that her brother wasn't superhuman, he could only do so much…some part deep inside her prepared for the worst, something she hadn't done in a long time. Christmas holidays quickly passed by, New Years being much more subdued than the year before, a quiet gathering at the Evans that consisted of Remus, Sirius, the Potters and Evans being the only real celebration. Ginny was still in disgrace over at the Burrow, and neither Harry or Rose had gone over to see her, even to demand an apology. An uneasy feeling settled there, a relationship that was important to all of them. Harry especially was unhinged by the whole ordeal, turning in on himself and rejecting the company of all but his sister. For Rose, her anger at her friend was what drove her to keep away, anger at how she had treated her brother more than anything. A familiar feeling came springing back up from inside her, one she had only ever felt once, when she had first met Ginny. Contempt for her actions but also sorrow at losing a friend, for the time being. Neither of the Potter siblings had any idea when Ginny would come back around to her normal self, even her own family didn't, it was all a matter of waiting and seeing what would happen.

On the second of January, Wizards and Witches across Britain and Ireland found themselves waking up in a hurry as the dawn of a new semester back at Hogwarts began. In the Evans home, everything was calm and collected as Rose and Harry gathered up the last of their belongings, had breakfast with their grandparents before heading off to Kings Cross via floo. The Weasley household in comparison was full on pandemonium.

"Mum! Have you seen my wand!" Ron was frantically searching for his wand. If it was a handy-down he may have cared less about it, but it wasn't. It was one of the first presents his best friend got him, he wouldn't lose it.

"Have you checked all over your room, under your pillows, beneath the bed." Molly Weasley instructed her youngest son, whilst simultaneously preparing sandwiches for her children to have on the ride back to school.

Fred and George were another pair of lost sheep, roaming the house as they tried to find the last of their things. "Where in Merlins saggy balls…"

"Have our beater clubs gone…"

"Fred! George! Language!" Molly chastised.

"Sorry mum…" The twins looked a little sheepish at their chastising but continued to look, "Perce, have you seen our clubs?"

Percy shook his head as he came down the stairs, trunk thumping along behind. "I haven't. Have you seen my prefects' badge?"

"Uh…" The twins looked at each other, "Not a clue!"

Not believing either of them for a second, Percy just shook his head and went back upstairs to look over his room once more. On the way up, a sour looking Ginny brushed past him. "Watch where you're going Ginny." Percy lightly reprimanded.

His younger sibling whipped her head around and glared at her brother with such a vehement hatred that it made Percy almost slip as he was shocked into clumsiness. Not daring to say another word, Percy scurried up the stairs to avoid the gaze of his younger sister.

"Good morning Ginny. Are you packed?" Whilst not outright hostile, Molly was certainly still acting coolly towards her daughter.

"Yes." Ginny replied simply.

Looking up from her task, Molly frowned as she watched her daughter almost lifelessly sit on the kitchen bench and just stare into space. "Are you excited about going back?"

"I guess."

"Well…I suppose you'll have plenty of time to sit and think about your actions whilst you're on the train today. Maybe you can find Harry and Rose and apologise for you behaviour at Christmas."

Not saying a word, Ginny just continued to stare into space. "Sitting there silently isn't going to help things Ginny. I know how important your relationship with those two are. If I was you, I'd be getting down on my knees and begging for forgiveness!"

"I'm not you though…am I." Ginny answered, her voice a tad lower than anyone's her age should be, "I shan't be doing anything of the sort." Without another word, Ginny got up and left the table, grabbing her trunk and electing to sit outside on the steps to wait on her siblings.

Shaking her head, Molly quashed the uneasy feeling in her gut, trying to reason with herself. Surely it was just a phase, a bit of a moody teenage attitude that would go out in a couple of months. Then everything would be back to normal…right?

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Normally the trip back to Hogwarts would be a time for students to catch up with each other, swap holiday stories and enjoy the last of their free time away from school. This year though, there was a sense of uneasiness amongst the cohorts, none more so than the small group of friends revolving around the Potter Siblings. The Weasley's had been fashionably late to the train, the boys rushing to find their friends before the train took off. Ginny however, was nonchalant about the whole ordeal, finding a booth in one of the rear compartments, away from most people. For Harry, it was the flash of dulled fiery red hair that caught his attention as he sat there staring out the window, waiting for the Hogwarts express to take off.

"Harry!"

Turning his head, Harry smiled softly as he saw Hermione enter the compartment. "Hello Hermione. Have a nice New Years?"

"I did. It was nice. Quiet…but nice. What about you?" The Bushy haired Witch gave her friend a smile, "And where's Rose?"

"She's gone to fetch Luna. We had a quiet New Years too, which was nice."

Harry didn't need to say anything else, Hermione understood that Harry was still hurt from Christmas, no doubt Rose was too. On que, the auburn-haired Potter came into the compartment, Luna in close pursuit. "Hello Hermione." Rose said rather mutely.

Both Harry and Hermione gave her a strange look. "What's wrong Rosy?" Harry asked, opening his arm for his sister to come snuggle into.

"I ran into Ginny…she's…I don't know how to describe it." Rose shuddered.

"Cold." The voice of Ron Weasley answered for Rose, "She's cold. Lifeless. It's concerning."

Harry gave his best mate a smile as he came and sat beside Hermione. "I take it things haven't improved at home?"

"Not in the least. She's like a completely different person! I have no idea what's got into her but I don't like it!" Ron frowned as he sagged into the back of his seat, "Oh, hello 'Mione!"

"Hello to you too Ron. I'm sorry to hear about Ginny, I'm sure she'll come around."

"Maybe." Ron lamented.

Silence descended upon the group as unease shivered up their spine. The only person who wasn't affected was the still smiling Luna. "Whatever happens, good will prevail."

"Hm? Oh…Luna, I completely ignored you there! How were your holidays?" Harry tried to give the blonde a smile but it came out more as a grimace.

"They were nice. Daddy took me across to Switzerland to try and find the Barbegazi! We didn't find much though, only footprints and some fur."

Hermione rolled her eyes a little but smiled nonetheless. "That sounds nice Luna. What exactly is a Barbegazi?"

Luna's eyes lit up in excitement as she inched forward on her seat. "It's a small, white haired, furry gnome. They usually live in the mountains and use their giant feet as ski's. But they've never been found, only their tracks."

Letting out a sigh, Hermione nodded and smiled at Luna as she tried to act interested. "I'm sure someone will find one eventually."

"Oh they already have! Most of them live in communities, we were trying to find wild ones."

"Well…that sounds nice anyway." Harry smiled politely, "Um, where exactly is Ginny sitting Rose?"

Looking up at her brother, Rose furrowed her eyebrows as she nodded her head behind them. "She's in the last carriage, why?"

Standing up, Harry looked down at his sister and offered the most reassuring face he could muster.
"I'm just going to go check up on her."

"Sure, you want to do that?" Ron worried, "She might bite your head off."

"I'll live."

Ron shrugged. "Be my guest then."

Nodding his head in acknowledgement, Harry left the compartment and travelled down the compartment, traveling from carriage to carriage, stopping to say hello to a few friendly faces before he finally reached the last Carriage. It was almost void of students, only a handful of Ravenclaws huddled together scribbling on parchment and talking in hushed voices. There, at the very back, seated at a booth was Ginny Weasley. Her face was looking out the window, almost expressionless.

"Gin…" Harry tried to get Ginny's attention, "Gin…are you going to talk to me?"

Ginny turned to face Harry; her eyes lifeless as her normally bright fudgy eyes were a dull muddy brown instead. "What."

Taken aback, Harry motioned with his hand if he could sit. "Can we talk?"

"Go ahead." Ginny nodded her head.

Taking a seat across from her, Harry let out a sigh as he put his hands on the table. "How are you?"

"Fine."

"You don't sound fine."

Ginny's eye twitched a bit as she frowned. "It doesn't matter. What do you want?"

"I just wanted to know if you really meant what you said…at Christmas." Harry's brow furrowed as his hands twitch in nervousness.

"Doesn't really matter does it." Ginny said, "You won't forgive me either way."

"I would if you acted like you cared!" Harry's voice began to raise.

Letting out a sneer, Ginny just looked down her nose at Harry. "Why should I care."

Seizing Ginny's hand from across the table, Harry brought it over to his side. "Because…"

"Because what?" Ginny seized her hand back, "You think we had something special? Grow up Harry, who would want to be with a half blood orphan boy."

Looking physically hurt, Harry winced as something inside him felt like it snapped in half. "You don't mean that…"

"Oh, but I do. Here…" Ginny slipped off the promise ring that Harry had given to her a year prior, "Take your stupid ring. Put it on someone who matters."

"You matter to me though!"

Something twitched in Ginny's eye as Harry said that, "I shouldn't."

Letting out another sigh, Harry took the ring that Ginny had offered, slipping it inside his pocket. "I don't know what's wrong with you Ginny, but I'm going to find out."

Ginny watched as Harry turned his back to her and left. The Ravenclaws on the table diagonal to them were staring at the scene, until Ginny shot them a scathing look. They quickly huddled back together to do their work. Looking back out at the window, Ginny let her barrier drop as tears begin to stream down her face. Her fingers brushed over the spot where Harry had grabbed her, and where her ring once sat.

"He doesn't love you." A voice whispered in Ginny's ear.

She was all to familiar with the voice now, it even took control of her most of the time, as it had just then. "What do you want from me…" Her voice was quiet…defeated.

"You're going to do some tasks for me once we get back to Hogwarts, Girl."

"I won't do it…"

The voice laughed. "Do you want to see your precious blood traitor family and friends die?"

"No…"

"Then you'll do as you're told, girl. Don't forget…" The voice slithered over to Ginny's other ear, "I'm inside of you…I control you."

A shiver of fear went through Ginny's body as she stared at the compartment door where Harry had left. "Please help me Harry…"

"He can't help you. Nobody can."

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When Harry returned to the compartment he was set upon by countless questions, all of them revolving around Ginny. Rose saw the distress in her brother's eyes though, quickly shutting down the discussion. "That's enough! Leave Harry alone, he's obviously very distressed right now. He can tell us what happened later."

Everyone quickly quietened down, even the perturbed looking Hermione. Looking across at his sister, Harry nodded his head in thanks before he went back to fiddling with the object in his hand. Peering closer, Rose saw that is was a ring, one almost identical to her own. "Is that…"

"Yes." Harry answered simply, knowing what Rose was about to ask.

"I see."

"What? What's going on?" Ron was looking between the two Potter siblings, his brain working overtime to catch the silent acknowledgement between them.

Hermione intervened though, shoving her elbow into Ron's ribs to shut him up. "OW! Hermione! What was that for?"

"Stop being nosy, obviously its none of our business."

Huffing, Ron sat back down in his chair and let the conversation around him flow as his bad mood bubbled away. He finally perked up again when the food cart Witch popped around to offer her goods. Naturally, the group bought their fair amount of sweets to fill themselves until their got back to Hogwarts where they could stuff themselves on the feast tonight.

The rest of the trip was rather mundane in comparison to the beginning. With Malfoy staying at Hogwarts over Christmas, he wasn't around to annoy the group of friends, instead they could enjoy themselves in relative isolation. As the sun began to dip behind the increasingly taller mountains of the Highlands, the group of friends got changed into their robes and settled down for the final leg of the journey. As always, Hagrid was there at the station to direct people to the horseless carriages that would take them back up to the castle, ready to begin the second half of the school year.

Contrary to prior arrivals, there was an ominous sensation in the air, a sense of unease gripping students as they trudged up to the carriages. Harry could feel it himself, and Rose as well if her gripping onto his arm was anything to go by. Perhaps it was the possibility of another attack on the student body that sent fear through everyone's hearts, or maybe it was just trepidation at having to face their teachers once more. Harry would place his entire Gringotts vault on the former. Even the looming silhouette of Hogwarts seemed to be dulled, an eerie silence adding to the suspense. Whatever it was, it had everyone very freaked out.

"Why's everyone so quiet?" Ron pondered out loud.

"People are scared. They're worried that there's going to be another attack soon." Hermione answered.

Ron peered around. "Surely Dumbledore would've fixed things by now? Right?"

Letting out a snort, Rose added her two cents to the discussion. "I wouldn't count on it. If he couldn't fix it then I doubt it'll be fixed now."

Harry 'tsked' as he rolled his eyes at his sisters' words, earning a pinch on the arm from her, "Ow!"

"Next time it'll be a punch. Now stop making fun of me."

"Yes, sister dear."

Ron managed to grab a carriage for everyone, albeit very squished as Hermione had herself squashed between Ron and Neville, her face bright with embarrassment.

"Hey, has anyone seen Alec?" Neville spoke up once everyone was settled in their seat.

Everyone looked around and back at the train, a little perplexed that they hadn't seen the other member of their group all day. "Surely, he wouldn't miss the train back, would he?"

"I don't know. He was off visiting relatives back in Australia over Christmas. Maybe he's late?" Harry supplied.

Rose, who was currently squashed between her brother and Luna, looked rather dejected at the prospect. "Huh, well…I'm sure we'll see him soon enough."

Harry gave his sister a comforting pet on the arm, earning him a smile back from his sister. "You'll be alright."

"Thanks Harry."

With the students now loaded up, the carriages made their journey up to the gates of the castle, giving the students an extra precious few minutes to enjoy their leisure time before the onslaught of classes began anew the next day. And although there was an oppressive mood overhead for many of the students, that didn't stop many of them from exchanging tales of their time on holidays and what they had received for Christmas. Harry couldn't help but wonder though if anyone had any idea how much danger they were truly in. He was beginning to wonder just how safe Hogwarts really was? Already, in just two years, Hogwarts students had been threatened with troll break-in's, the wraith of Voldemort, a rogue house elf and a creature that petrifies students and animals alike. Although, the more Harry thought, the more he realised that these events always ended up involving himself or himself being the centre of attention once again.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Looking down at his sister, Harry just shrugged and offered a slight smile. "Just thinking…"

"That's dangerous." Rose smirked.

"Ah ha ha, very funny Rose." Harry rolled his eyes, "Seriously though, I'm just thinking about how much has happened to myself and our friends whilst we've been here. Troll attacks, Voldemort, Dobby, and now this creature. It's like trouble just follows me."

Rose hummed in thought, gripping her brothers' hand in reassurance. "Well, none of it is truly your fault. I've been trying to tell you that Dumbledore isn't being responsible enough. Honestly, it's almost as if…"

Harry raised an eyebrow as his sister suddenly stopped talking. "As if…?"

"Like he's testing you."

The thought ran through Harry like a cold breeze, making him shiver in discomfort. "I think that's enough for now…"

Looking up at her brother, Rose only had a look of concern on her face, her hand now tightly gripping his. "Sorry."

"Don't be." Harry reassured her, "I think…I think you're right."

Now it was Rose's turn to have a shiver run through her. The idea of her brother, only barely a teenager, being tested by dangerous odds put her mind at unease. Perhaps she wasn't giving her brother the benefit of the doubt. The quiet conversation that the siblings were having was broken as the carriages slowed to a halt just in front of the entrance to the castle. Students began to pour out of the carriages, swarming into the entrance hall as they made a beeline for the Great Hall, where their house tables sat prepared. Those that stayed over the Christmas Holidays waited for their fellow housemates, smiling and waving as their friends returned for yet another semester at Hogwarts. Our Gryffindors settled themselves in at their table, waiting for Dumbledore to welcome them back before feasting. A few other Gryffindors said their hellos as they passed the group, Dean and Seamus notably as well as the Quidditch team. Woods had whispered in Harry's ear about stepping up training now that winter was now fully entrenched. Shivering even at the thought of playing in the snow and rain, Harry just nodded and went back to talking with his friends.

"Welcome back students, to another semester here with us at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore's booming voice broke through the conversations of many students, whilst others continued to whisper, "I hope all of you enjoyed your break away from school and spending time with your family. Before we begin stuffing ourselves full, I would like to speak to you all briefly. As you all know, the past semester was rocked with a number of unfortunate events surrounding the so-called chamber of secrets."

Harry and his friends looked around at each other as they began to pay close attention to the headmaster. "I must implore all of you to not go looking for those that are responsible or the so-called chamber itself. At the moment, both the teaching faculty and outside help are roaming these halls to make sure that whatever is causing these events it found and stopped. In the meantime, curfews will be brought forward by an hour and students are asked to please, not wander the halls at night. At All."

The last bit of Dumbledore's speech had the old man's eyes practically boring into Harry's own emerald eyes, making it very clear that he wished for Harry and his friends to cease their escapades. Looking down at the table, Harry felt his cheeks heat up into a flush as he felt others eyes begin to turn their attention towards him again. Whispers began to break up the silence. Harry managed to catch a few of the words being passed around, 'Heir of Slytherin…Snoop…trouble maker…attention seeker…paseltongue…'

Harry felt a hand slip into his own, realising it was the slight, petite hand of his sisters. "Ignore them, they're all a bunch of ignorant bastards." Rose whispered into her brothers' ear.

Giving his sister a small smile, Harry squeezed Rose's hand back. Looking up, Harry saw the look of concern in his friend's eyes, Ron in particular was looking rather murderous as he shot anyone close enough who was whispering a scathing look that would've put Mrs Weasley to shame. "I'm alright, just a little sick of the wrong sort of attention."

"They can all mind their own business." Ron grumbled, "Didn't your mother ever teach you its rude to stare!" Ron snapped off at a staring third year.

"Ron! He's right though Harry, they really should mind their own business." Hermione sniffed disapprovingly.

Neville looked a little uncomfortable at the amount of attention directed their way, focusing instead on the knife and fork in front of him. Luna though, took it in her stride as she just smiled prettily and batted her eyelashes. "Seems as though there's been an increase to the amount of wrackspurt's amongst the student body."

The group of friends were slowly getting use to Luna's antics, all except Hermione who raised an eyebrow and tried to come up with some rational reason. Before Hermione could retort though, food sprung up on the table in front of them, causing Hermione to jump back in surprise.

"Finally! I'm famished!" Ron wasted no time getting stuck into the food in front of him, and neither did any of the students around them.

A few minutes after the feast had begun, the doors to the Great Hall slipped open, letting two figures into the Hall. Peering around, the group of friends had smiles on their faces as they noticed their missing companion making his way down the tables.

"Evening you lot. What've I missed?" Alec smiled as he took a seat next to Rose.

"About time you got here, what'd ya do? Get stuck in traffic?" Ron snickered as Alec rolled his eyes.

"Not quite." Alec replied, "Port Key was a bit off so we landed in Rome. Had to Apparate jump across Europe to get up here. Besides, Dad wanted to have a quick chat with Professor Dumbles."

The group turned their eyes towards the head table where Professor Dumbledore was leant forward, listening to something Lennox Henderson was telling him. Making a rather serious face, Dumbledore nodded, dismissing the younger man who turned around and exited the Great Hall, but not before ruffling Alec's hair and giving the rest of them a wave hello.

"What's your dad up to then?" Rose enquired.

Alec just shrugged. "I wouldn't have a clue. I tried to pry some information out of him but he just stayed clamped shut."

"Maybe it's something to do with these attacks?" Neville spoke up.

"There's certainly a good chance. Dad was an Auror before he went into politics, maybe Dumbledore is calling in some private connections before turning to the Ministry."

Rose huffed a little before her eyes wandered up to the head table, shooting Dumbledore a mistrustful look. The headmaster replied with a slight smile and head nod, but the younger Potter just kept her gaze for a little while longer before turning back to the conservation at hand. For the rest of the meal, the group of friends caught up and swapped holiday stories, leaving their private conversations for the privacy of Gryffindor Tower. The twins came and annoyed the group for a few moments as they stopped on their way to further 'annoy' Alicia and Angelina, providing the group the only distraction to their night. Once everyone was stuffed to the brim, students and teachers alike left the hall for the safety of their quarters, no-one daring to get separated from the larger group. Harry and his friends got caught in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the herd of students, although everyone kept a healthy distance away from Harry, though thankfully the whispering was kept to a minimum and Percy was quick to shut anyone down who dared whisper about his friends and family near him. That didn't stop an older Gryffindor girl from pointing her fingers and staring at Rose, unfortunately she didn't expect Percy to deduct points from her for gossiping and spreading rumours. Rose shot the older Weasley brother a smile, one which Percy was happy to return as he shuffled students towards the dorms. Most of the students were happy to give Harry and his friends a wide berth as they entered the common room, allowing the group to quickly take up residence on the couches in front of the fireplace.

"So, how come your dad was here?" Harry asked Alec as soon as everyone was comfortable.

Alec just shrugged. "Like I said, he just wanted to chat with Dumbledore. I think perhaps he's going to start having a look around the school for evidence of the Chamber of Secrets."

"How's he gonna do that then?" Ron asked, "The teachers have been looking for it most of the semester. I'm sure Hermione doesn't need to tell you that this place is huge."

"Ron has a point Alec." Hermione added, although she did give Ron a funny look, "The Professors have searched around the corridors where attacks have taken place. There's been no evidence except for the victims."

"Perhaps they're just looking in the wrong places." Luna spoke up. Everyone looked at her for a moment before she continued, "The scene of the crime isn't always where the evidence is. Perhaps they need to broaden their search."

Rose smiled at her friend. "That's a good idea Luna. Maybe we need to do the same?"

"We?" Ron spoke up, "Didn't you hear what Dumbledore said?"

"Come on Ron, we saved the Philosophers Stone last year!" Alec grinned, although Ron certainly didn't return the sentiment.

Harry meanwhile was deep in thought as he stared into the fire. "That was different though!" Ron continued to argue, "People weren't getting attacked, and we still all ended up in the infirmary."

"You're right Ron, it is a bad idea…but." Hermione chewed on her bottom lip, "What happens if it's one of us that gets attacked next?" Ron was silent after that, his eyes going downcast as he fiddled with his tie.

"We need to do this." Harry's voice was quiet yet strong. He'd stopped staring at the fire, instead looking at his companions and sister, "You saw what happened last year. If we hadn't gotten to the Stone before Quirrell, Voldemort would be alive right now."

"But Harry…"

"Ron, do you think I want to do this?" Harry looked at his best friend, willing him to understand, "Rose said something to me on the carriage ride up here today, something that I can't help but think about."

"What about Harry?" Hermione asked softly.

Looking down at his sister, Harry gave her hand a squeeze as Rose nodded her understanding. "I said that it was almost like Dumbledore was testing Harry…and by extension the rest of us."

Everyone looked at each other rather funny like, except Luna, who just smiled. "We're all connected to Harry one way or another. We're all friends, family, we can't avoid being tied up in whatever fate has decided for my brother." Rose smiled at her brother in question, "Ever since that night our…our parents died, Harry has been marked for destiny, I know it. All these events that are happening around us? Affecting us? I think it's fate and destiny that's at play here."

"I agree." Luna spoke up, "Harry is a very important young man, I can feel it. Ever since you were born you've been special…destined for greatness."

Gone was the normal airy tone Luna normally had, instead her voice was eerily serious, her expression almost dire. "We've been chosen to be by Harry's side, no matter what. This is a test, not just for Harry but for all of us. We have to do this."

"Thank you, Luna, I…I don't know what to say."

Luna just smiled, her airy disposition returning. "That's okay Harry, sometimes I can be the voice of reason."

"Honestly Luna, I think you're the only sane person here sometimes." Alec chuckled.

For the rest of the night, the group of friends put all thought of monster attacks, chambers of secrets and fate behind them. Instead, they spent the night playing games and enjoying each-others company. Ron though, kept rather quiet throughout the whole ordeal, his face sombre even when the deck of cards combusted in his face. Once everyone was thoroughly tired out, they retreated to their dorms, Rose and Luna departing up the girl's tower behind Hermione whilst the boys travelled up together. Before they entered their room though, Ron pulled Harry aside at the door.

"Do you believe what Luna said? About fate and destiny?"

Harry shrugged as he looked his best mate in the eyes. "I don't know. But it does seem rather uncanny doesn't it? Hogwarts has been peaceful for the last 10 years, until we arrive. Then all hell breaks loose."

Ron chuckled. "It does seem as though we have a penchant for trouble."

"Yeah…it does." Harry chuckled back, "But to answer your question, yes…I think I do believe it."

That was all Ron needed to hear. Nodding his head, Ron pulled Harry into an embrace that caught the younger boy by surprise. "Well, whatever happens, we'll all be beside you." Ron reassured. As he pulled away, he slapped Harry on the shoulder with a smile. "Couldn't leave my best mate to steal all the glory, now could I?"

Harry laughed as he clapped Ron on the shoulder back. "Don't worry, I'm sure they'll be plenty to go around once this is all done."

"If we survive." Ron added rather darkly.

"Yeah…If we survive."

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Up in the girl's dormitory, the environment was much more hostile than with Harry and Ron. Rose had spied Ginny, writing in her diary. "Ginny!"

Ginny either ignored Rose or didn't hear her, as she didn't turn around. Frustrated and angry, Rose stormed over to stand right next to the girl. "Ginny! Would you talk to me!"

Once more, Ginny ignored Rose. "Merlins sake would you bloody listen to me!" Rose, in frustrated anger, grabbed Ginny's diary and threw it across the room. "Bloody listen to me! What the hell is wrong with you! First that act at Christmas and now you go ahead and break Harry's heAGH!"

Rose was cut off as Ginny flung herself at Rose, pinning her to the ground as her hands went around her neck. In fright, Rose lashed out and hit out at her 'friend', slapping and kicking with all her might until she launched Ginny off of her. By then, the few other first year girls in the dorms had gone to fetch a Prefect and some of the older girls to break up the fight. Luna was the first to help, pulling Ginny off of Rose after a second attack, only to find herself being attacked by the frenzied girl. Hermione eventually came in just before the prefect, who managed to separate the two with a quick shield charm.

"What in Godric's name is going on here!" The Prefect yelled, astonished at the sight before her. Hermione too was looking a little flustered and concerned, as her two best friends' sisters looked about ready to murder each other.

"She bloody well attacked me!" Rose growled.

"You should stay out of other people's business!" Ginny countered; her eyes full of hate.

Rose huffed. "We're supposed to be friends Ginny, what's wrong with you?"

Ginny didn't answer this time, only going to collect the diary on the floor before walking back to her desk. "You two need to sort out your differences. If this happens again, I'll be deducting points." The prefect warned, "Now get to bed, it's almost curfew."

Rose rubbed her throat as she looked over at Ginny's now hunched form, a tear forming in her eye as she watched her friend write furiously into the book. "What happened to you Ginny…"

The girl in question just ignored her friend, instead choosing to write in her diary. "Come on Rose, let's get you to bed." Hermione instructed, guiding the girl over to her bed, "Is your throat okay?"

Rose nodded, adrenaline pumping through her, stopping the flood of tears she knew was going to come later. "Yeah…I think so."

"Why did you throw Ginny's diary?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know…I…I don't like that diary." Rose answered.

Luna made a noise at the back of her throat that sounded like agreement, her eyes peering at Ginny with such mistrust that Rose had to have a second take at the sweet, innocent girl. "I take it you don't like the diary either Luna?" Hermione asked.

"No. I do not. It's…evil."

Hermione and Rose stared at Luna for a moment before looking back at each other. "Perhaps we should talk to Ginny's brothers. Maybe they can sort things out. For now, though, just stay separated." Hermione looked over at Ginny and frowned, "She's obviously going through something difficult right now. She may just need some space."

Rose nodded her understanding and went to change into her pyjamas as Hermione left the first year's dormitory. Luna sat on Rose's bed, a concerned look on her face as she reached out with her hand for Rose to take. "Everything will be okay."

"I don't know about that Luna." Rose answered, rather dismayed. Ginny had been her first friend, besides Harry, and was without a doubt her best friend. Although she had spikes of jealousy towards the girl for the obviously mutual attraction that Ginny and Harry had between them, she still found herself trusting her almost as much as she trusted Harry.

"Harry will sort it out. I just know it." Luna reassured.

Rose snorted as she went to sit next to Luna on her bed, hands intertwined. "You really think so?"

"Ah ha, your brother is special Rose. I can feel it."

Laying her head on Luna's shoulder, Rose let her tears fall freely as Luna just wrapped an arm around her friends' shoulder and gently stroked her auburn hair. "S-sorry…I'm getting t-tears all over your p-pyjamas."

"Don't apologise Rose, it's okay to cry." Luna said soothingly. The elder girl pressed a kiss to Rose's brow in a move that made her stiffen up before relaxing once more. It was something she expected from her brother, not her friend, but it still helped either way.

"I think I'm gonna head to bed now." Rose said rather mutely.

Luna just nodded her head and released Rose, drifting back over to her own bed to get ready for the night. With one last look at her former, no…her best friend, Rose let out a sigh and shut the curtains around her bed.

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School was back in full swing within a couple of days for the whole of Hogwarts. Harry and his friends had hardly any time to investigate the attacks, although there seemed to be a certain amount of peace in the castle as there hadn't been another attack yet. That all changed one day when Harry, Ron, Hermione and Alec were heading back to Gryffindor tower from the library after a studying session. Being accosted by a group of Hufflepuffs led by Ernie MacMillan certainly didn't help, but neither did running into a rather sombre looking Hagrid. The giant of a man was carrying a dead rooster in his hand. It was the second time it had happened apparently, the first occurring just before the last Quidditch match where Harry was assaulted by Dobby's charmed Bludger.

"Jus' gotta ask the headmaster for permission to put up a charm yeh see." Hagrid explained.

Nobody found it particularly odd, as Hagrid explained it was either foxes or a 'Blood-Suckin' Bugbear'. Leaving Hagrid to his business, the Gryffindors travelled back down the hallway when they stumbled across a dreadful sight. They had found Justin Finch-Fletchley and Sir Nicolas both petrified in a puddle of water just outside of the abandoned girl's bathroom. Unfortunately, Peeves was floating down the hallway as well and began screaming at the top of his lungs about an attack. Students began to pour out of the classrooms and immediately began gawking at the sight, whispers spreading through the ranks. McGonagall had come out to see what the fuss was all about, immediately blanching as she took in the sight and her four second year Lions.

"Caught in the act! See! I told you he was just biding his time!" Ernie shouted out as his group of Hufflepuffs appeared on scene.

"That's enough MacMillan! There'll be no more rumour spreading! I don't want to hear a single 'she said he said.' Understood?" McGonagall was fuming by the time she was done reprimanding Ernie and his friends, the group shyly shrivelling back into the crowd of other students.

McGonagall had of course questioned Harry and his friends, shaking her head in disappointment as she realised nobody was closer to finding out the truth yet. Justin was levitated away to the infirmary as Sir Nicolas was pushed by a conjured fan, into the dungeons to be sorted out later. By then, everyone was on edge. It was one thing to petrify an animal or student, but to petrify a ghost was rather scary. Immediately the rumours began to spread once more as Ravenclaws, Slytherins and Hufflepuffs began to place the blame on Harry. People began to spread rumours that Justin was finished off by Harry after he failed to do so at the failed duelling club last semester. Percy thankfully put down any rumour spreading in Gryffindor Tower, but that didn't help Harry in the slightest when it came to classes during the day, or meal times where he was openly stared at and whispers passed behind his back.

Snape had snapped out at a group of Slytherins that were so busy gossiping that they let their cauldron bubble over, costing them 10 points. Harry couldn't help but chuckle, until he saw the scathing look Snape sent him in return. The potion master had been rather silent towards Harry since the duelling club, and there was a look in his eye that made Harry question Snape's motives. It was almost as if he knew something about Harry that he himself didn't know…something that obviously upset Snape if the look was anything to go by. The other teachers however tried to continue on with the school year as best they could, even if students were constantly bombarding them with questions about the goings-on of the investigation and if there had been any more attacks. The only teacher who even slightly budged to the students was the ghostly apparition of Professor Binns, whom was convinced by a rather enthusiastic Hermione to tell them the tale of the Chamber of Secrets.

Binns had confirmed that there was indeed a myth that Salazar Slytherin himself constructed a secret hideaway lair for himself during the construction of the castle many millennia ago. However, he stressed that it was purely a myth and that any rumours of mythical beasts hiding deep below were completely unfounded. Of course, nobody really believed that. They'd seen two of their classmates be petrified, plus a ghost and Mrs Norris. Whatever was stalking about the castle whilst everyone slept or worked was obviously dangerous enough to warrant some concern. The attack on Justin and Sir Nicolas only ramped up those concerns however, as Professors and Prefects began to escort students between classes, always in groups of course as everyone had been told to never be alone whilst roaming the castle.

Harry was practically ostracized from the school's social groups, besides his own friends and family of course, which did nothing to help Harry's now worsening mood. Besides the few Quidditch matches that he had coming up, Harry had very little to look forward to. He was planning on sending a valentine note to Ginny on the 14th, as Lockhart had announced earlier in the month that he would be hosting the day in order to bring some 'brightness' to student body, but with Ginny acting the way she was, Harry very much doubted that he would be sending anything. He was furious to learn that she had attacked Rose and Luna the night they returned to school, tempted to seek her out and demand answers. Hermione and Rose however, convinced him to stay out of it, claiming that she was obviously going through a hard time. That still didn't stop Harry from comforting his sister on the nights where she cried for the loss of her first real friend. Luna had been a wonderful help, but Ginny was like a sister to Rose and the loss of someone so close had hit the younger girl hard. The rumour spreading that was revolving around Harry and his friends slowly dried up though as excitement built up around the castle in the leadup to Valentine's day. For many of the younger students, watching as the older student population of the school sucked each-others tonsils out didn't make for a very appealing sight. On more than one occasion, current boyfriends of girlfriends would find their significant other having a quick snog with someone completely different, leading to a rather impromptu duel as the slighted witch or wizard hexed the pants off both of the assailants. It was during one of these matches that had Harry and Ron ducking down an all too familiar hallway.

"Bloody mental these lot. It's become a warzone since Lockhart announced this stupid Valentine's Day celebration." Ron huffed as he dusted a bit of powdered castle wall off his robe.

Harry full heartedly agreed with Ron, grunting in annoyance. "They're not real smart unfortunately. Snogging in alcoves and behind tapestries only provides too much privacy."

"It's not even the snogging that's the problem!" Ron groaned, "Surely they could hex each-other outside, away from the rest of us! Neville ended up in the infirmary yesterday after a 5th year blasted a sconce off the wall that bounced on Neville's head."

Harry physically cringed at the thought. "Ouch, is he alright?"

"Oh yeah, just a slight concussion but he's alright. Can't really say the same about the…hey! Bloody hell, what's all this water here for?"

The two boys had hardly noticed that they'd wandered into a small stream of water that was currently running down the hallway. The source seemed to be coming from the abandoned girl's bathroom, where they had previously brewed the Polyjuice potion and where Justin and Sir Nicolas had been found.

"I bet you Myrtle has flooded the bathroom again." Harry huffed in annoyance, "Come on, let's go see what's wrong."

Stepping into Myrtle's abode, Harry and Ron were straight away aurally assaulted by the high-pitched wailing of Moaning Myrtle. "Owww! Ow ow! How cruel! Nobody likes Moaning Myrtle."

"Myrtle? What's with the flooding? The corridor looks like the bloody Nile out there!" Harry carefully manoeuvred his way through the bathroom, making sure not to slip and crack his head open.

"Somebody came in before! Came in to hurt me! Threw a book at me!" Myrtle cried as she hovered above the ground, "Nobody comes to say hello anymore, just to bully me!"

Ron made a tsk sound as he looked on at the sad looking ghost. "Myrtle, can you even be hurt? I mean, you're a ghost! It would just go straight through you!"

Ron's comment only further upset the ghost as she wailed some more and flew down a toilet. "Ron! Don't be so insensitive." Harry warned.

"What? It's true innit?" Ron shrugged, "You're hanging around Hermione too much."

Harry only rolled his eyes as he went to investigate where Myrtle had gone to. "Myrtle? We promise we're not here to throw books at you, we just need to stop the flooding."

With a gush of water, Myrtle sprang from a toilet, showering both Ron and Harry in the icky smelling liquid. "Myrtle!"

Giving a rather girlish giggle, Myrtle 'sat' herself down on the top of the bathroom stool walls and looked down at the pair. "Do you really want to know what happened?"

"Yes!"

Giggling some more, Myrtle swung her legs as she informed the boys what had happened. "So, there I was, sitting in the u-bend of my pipe, thinking about death…" Myrtle flirtatiously battered her eyelashes at Harry, "And other morose things, when all of a sudden, this book fell straight through my head!"

Harry and Ron looked at each other for a moment as the realisation of how silly this all was dawned on them. "It got washed up anyway, it's over there." Myrtle pointed off into the corner.

There, in the corner of the bathroom, was a small, black book. It was tarnished and a little old but didn't have any serious damage on it even though it had been soaked in toilet water. "Myrtle, why would anyone come and throw a book at you?"

"I don't know! Maybe they were playing a game! Throw the book through Myrtle's head, see if she wails some more!" The ghost went back to moaning and crying as she flew back down the toilet pipe, her cries echoing across the room.

"Come on Harry, let's get out of here before she soaks us again." Ron huffed.

Nodding his head, Harry quickly grabbed the black book before following Ron out of the bathroom. The pair shared their experience to their other friends as they sat around the Gryffindor common room. Harry showed them the book that he had picked up, piquing everyone's interest straight away, especially Hermione's.

"So, why would anyone want to throw a raggedy old diary down the toilet and hit Myrtle in the head?" Ron asked the all-important question.

"Maybe someone wrote something embarrassing in there!" Alec suggested.

Shaking his head, Harry opened the book to reveal that it was blank. "I had a look, there's not a single scrap of writing in it at all. Not one note, one secret crush, secret or piece of gossip. The only thing that's written in is a set of initials and last name."

Flicking to the front of the book, Harry showed them the initials. "T.M. Riddle, so who's that then?" Alec asked.

"I swear I've seen that name before! That's it! He got an award for 'special services' to the school, about five decades ago." Ron said.

"How'd you know that?" Harry asked.

Ron looked a little sheepish. "Oh, uh…I had detention a little while back. Filch made me dust the awards cabinet and I just remember the name for some reason."

"What'd you have detention for?" Hermione asked, her lips pursed.

"I may or may not have helped the twins with a little prank last semester. Except I was the scapegoat."

Everyone looked at Ron a little puzzling. "What did they do?" Hermione asked.

"Tried to put a biting doorknob on Filch's door. Scared the life out of him. I had to distract him by making up a fake incident, of course he went back to his office and almost lost a finger so he blamed me." Ron grumbled, "Bloody twins."

Everyone but Hermione let out a laugh as Ron explained the situation. The bushy haired girl just sat there with her arms crossed and a rather sour face on her. "Anyway, that's how I know the name."

"Do you think it's hiding something?" Hermione spoke up.

"If it is, it's hiding it really well. I haven't found anything except for the name."

Humming in thought, Hermione flipped through the pages herself and looked at the diary. "If this diary is 50 years old…"

"Hermione, what're you thinking?" Ron asked worriedly.

"Well, Malfoy said that his father told him the chamber opened 50 years ago…right?"

"Did he?" Harry asked.

"Honestly, you boys would miss the plot details even if they were right in front of you!" The three boys looked at each other for a moment, confused to buggery, before Hermione continued, "Anyway, if the diary is 50 years old…and the chamber opened 50 years ago…"

The lightbulbs finally clicked on. "I think I know where you're going with this Hermione." Harry mused.

"Where? What's she on abo-oohh I get it!" Ron smiled, "That's a brilliant idea Hermione!"

"I still don't get it…" Alec looked rather confused.

"The diary might hold some information about the chamber!" Hermione finally let on.

Finally, it dawned on Alec, who looked rather sheepish not getting it at first but nodded his head in understanding. "Right, so what're we waiting for then?"

For the next half hour, the group of friends tried everything they possibly could to reveal the diaries secrets. Hermione used a revealing charm and even a revealer eraser that she'd picked up in Diagon Alley the summer prior. Nothing came up though, it was as if the diary really was just a blank book and that this 'Riddle' fellow hadn't used it a day in his life. Frustrated, Hermione was an inch away from threatening it with several deadly curses when Rose and Luna arrived back from their classes. Rose's eyebrows were slightly singed, which made Harry raise an eyebrow.

"What happened to you?"

"Rose decided to set fire to a snogging couples robes, but the spell backfired." Luna informed them all rather nonchalantly.

Huffing, Rose sat down next to her brother, rather cross looking. "Yes well, maybe people need to stop sucking oxygen from each-others lungs."

"Maybe you should try it some time." Alec teased.

Grabbing her wand, Rose was about to do something deadly to the older boy before Harry put his hand on her wrist. "Don't blow his legs off Rose. We still need him, even if he isn't the sharpest knife on the rack."

"Hey!"

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Valentine's day quickly snuck up to the castle like an elephant sneaks up on a mouse. Love notes made into paper planes were soaring through the corridors and in the Great Hall, becoming target practise for Snape as he shot down any he saw with a quick flick of his wand and a fireball. More than one Witch had been reduced to tears as their recipients failed to give them the reaction they hoped for and plenty of Wizards had run away with their tails between their legs as the object of their desires laughed at their attempts. It was rather comical really, or at least Harry thought so, as he watched the displays of frivolous love come crashing down. It was the more serious relationships that weren't as obvious to the onlookers, at least that was what Harry noticed. He liked those sorts of relationships, watching as two young people exchanged loving glances as they met in the corridor, or how one would greet the other with a soft kiss. It made Harry jealous almost, but he pushed that feeling deep into the recesses of his mind. If he thought about it too much, he'd end up thinking about Ginny, which at this current stage in life only made him want to sulk and brood around the castle all day and night.

On Valentine's day proper, the population of Hogwarts were greeted to the atrocious sight of a glaringly pink Great Hall. Banners, streamers and confetti, all garishly hot pink, decked the walls of the hall or fell from its enchanted ceiling. Lockhart had certainly gone all out. Whilst his lessons were shocking to say the least, nobody could doubt his ability to make things annoyingly worse.

Standing at the front of the hall, dressed in a lurid pink robe, Lockhart gathered everyone's attention with his pearly smile. "Good morning my lovely students! Happy Valentines day to you all! I hope each and every one of you receive a card today, and if not…" Lockhart chuckled annoyingly, "Well better luck next year!"

Harry and his friends all groaned in annoyance, all except Hermione who was wrapped around Lockhart's melodic finger. "Honestly, please let Snape just hex him. I would put up with a years' worth of potion exams just to get rid of him…" Ron let out in anguish.

Hermione sent a glaring look at Ron as she shushed him, Lockhart's voice once more echoing across the hall. "As a surprise for you all, and because I was so deeply touched by the 45...no! 46 letters I received from you all this morning; I have organised a very special gift."

Lockhart clapped his hands and the doors to the Great Hall burst open, revealing the surprise to everyone. Rough looking dwarfs dressed up to look like cupids, wings that actually worked and all. "My friends! The card-carrying Cupids, will roam around the school today to allow each and every one of you to deliver your secret, or not so secret, Valentines day cards to your special someone!"

Already there were hands raised up in the air, letters clenched within the fingers, waiting for the Cupids to deliver their cards. Suspiciously, the Fred stuck his hand up as well, delivering a letter to a Cupid before whispering some instructions in their ear. "What do you think those two are up to?" Ron asked dubiously.

"Probably sending a letter to either annoy Angela or Alicia." Harry suggested.

Ron hummed in agreement, surprised to see Hermione was holding out a letter. "Who're you delivering a letter to?" Ron asked rather bitterly.

"None of your business Ronald." Hermione huffed, thanking the Cupid-Dwarf as he floated up to the front of the hall.

"AH! Another letter! Thank you whoever sent my now 47th letter for today!" Lockhart beamed as he studied the letter rather uninterestingly before chucking it aside.

Harry, Ron, Alec and Rose all looked at Hermione, who shrunk down a little in her seat. "What?"

"You did not just send a letter to Lockhart." Alec gapped.

"Hermione! What the hell!" Rose gawked.

"Unbelieve." Harry shook his head.

"What a prat…Lockhart that is." Ron frowned.

Finding her breakfast all the more interesting, Hermione ignored her friends thoroughly as they continued to gawk at her with completely surprised expressions.

With the humiliation of having to watch Lockhart once more act like a pompous fool finally over, students began to filter out for the day, ready to learn some magic. Throughout the day, Cupids would wander in and out of classrooms and around the corridors, delivering letters and even singing them out. Thankfully, there weren't any letters for many second years, leaving them to study and learn in peace. Snape did block one Cupid from delivering a letter into the potion's classroom after lunch, threatening to turn him into potions ingredients if he didn't leave. As funny as that was to watch, Harry had a suspicion that he'd see that Cupid again. And Right Harry was, as on the way to the charms classroom, the very same Cupid-Dwarf reappeared.

"Oi, you! 'Arry Potter!"

Harry physically sagged as he realised the Cupid was after him. "What do you want?"

"Got a singin' musical rendition 'ere for ya!" The Cupid informed him.

"What! Not here!" Harry was desperate to escape the crowds before the Dwarf could do anymore damage to his already tarnished reputation. "Oi! Stand still you lil' bugga!"

Grabbing a hold of Harry's bag, the Dwarf tugged at Harry as he threatened to wack him over the head with his lyre. "Let go of me!" Harry demanded.

With an almighty rip, Harry's satchel was torn open, spilling its contents all over the ground. Wand, quills, textbooks, his ink bottle and even Riddle's diary all came crashing onto the floor, now thoroughly covered in ink. "Oh great, look what you did! I ought to turn you into a rat and feed you to my owl!"

"Tsk, pretty crappy bag there mate. Say, I know a bloke in Knockturn Alley, fix yer bag up real right and proper!"

Harry willed himself not to throttle the Dwarf as he tried to pick up his belongings. "Bugger off you stupid old goat!"

"What's going on here!" Harry physically cringed as he heard the voice of Malfoy coming up the corridor.

"Make way, Prefect coming through! What's all the commotion!" Percy Weasley's voice came from the other end.

"Now, jus' sit still would ya!" The Dwarf commanded, "Now, 'ere is your singing valentine!"

Harry groaned as he saw everyone was crowding around to hear.

"His eyes are as green as fresh pickled toad,

His hair is as dark as a blackboard.

I wish he was mine, he's really divine,

The hero who conquered the Dark Lord."

In that moment, Harry felt more embarrassment than ever before in front of his peers. Scrambling to his feet, Harry was inches away from throttling the Dwarf with his bare hands, if he hadn't run off so quickly to deliver more messages.

"Alright everyone, you've all had your fun, now get to class!" Percy commanded the onlookers, some of which were still having a chuckle and laugh at Harry's expense.

Picking up the rest of his belongings and quickly repairing his satchel, Harry realised he was missing the diary. "Are you alright Harry?" Ron asked as he came up alongside to help pick everything up.

"Yeah, I will be. I dropped the diary somewhere."

"What's this then hey Potter, got yourself a little diary?" Malfoy's snarky voice rung out.

Looking up, Harry felt chills going down his spine as he saw that Malfoy had Riddle's diary in his hands. "Hand it over Malfoy, now."

"Let's see what little Harry Potter has written in his diary shall we." Opening the book, Malfoy looked puzzled as he saw that there wasn't anything written in it, "Guess Potter hasn't done anything exciting recently."

Having quite enough attention for one day, Harry sent a quick disarming spell towards Malfoy, stealing the book back, much to Percy's outrage. "Harry! You're not suppose to do magic in the corridors!"

"Sue me Percy, I'm not about to let this prick boss me around." Harry glared at Malfoy as the other boy sneered.

"Whatever Potter, keep your little diary." Pushing through the crowds, Harry watched as Malfoy barged into an onlooking Ginny. It was the first time that he'd noticed her watching the scene, her eyes alight with fright. It was the most normal he'd seen her in weeks. "I don't think he enjoyed your little poem." Malfoy snarked to Ginny as he went past.

Mortified, Ginny cast a quick look towards the diary before fleeing into the group of 1st years, running past Rose who'd just caught on that her brother was in trouble. "What'd you do this time?" She asked.

"Bloody Dwarf ripped open my bag as I was trying to escape." Harry answered.

"Escape from what?"

"Ginny wrote him a poem." Ron spoke, "Dwarf delivered it. Was pretty funny."

Harry just glared at his mate as Hermione flicked Ron around the ear and Alec chuckled. "How'd you know it was from Ginny anyway?"

"Because she fancies you, we all know that. She's fancied you since she was a little girl and dad would read your story to her." Ron explained.

Harry thought that there was more to that than Ron really knew. Deep down, only Harry or Ginny truly understood what was going on in their hearts. "Yeah…maybe."

With the action over for now, everybody went on to their separate classrooms. Harry didn't notice until he got to charms that whilst everything was coated in ink, Riddle's diary was still pristine. Curious, Harry flipped through the pages, noticing that it truly was unblemished, even though it more than likely got covered in ink. Wanting to investigate further, Harry decided to drop a dap of ink onto the page, watching as it mysteriously soaked up into the paper. Deciding to investigate it further tonight, Harry tucked the book away, safe from prying eyes. The rest of the day was smooth running for the most part. Lockhart out did himself at dinner with a rather pompous closing to Valentines day, although by this stage everyone was rather sick of the 'cupids' and their intrusive pursuit of their targets. Harry couldn't help but think about the events of the day, especially the way that Ginny looked mortified at the supposed poem she'd sent him. It reminded him of when they first met, the awkwardness between them and the shyness they both shared. He had a sneaking suspicion that the twins had something to do with the letter, mainly because her recent attitude towards…well everyone.

"Did you hear that Seamus sent Lavender a valentine?"

Ron's voice broke Harry's train of thought. "Hm? Did he?" Harry shrugged, "What happened?"

"Apparently she conjured a goblet of water and dumped it on Seamus' head." Ron snickered.

Harry couldn't help but feel sorry for Seamus. "That sounds embarrassing."

"You're telling me."

Silence fell between the two friends before Harry spoke up again. "Do you think your sister really sent that poem?"

"Hm?" Ron looked up from stuffing his face, "Yeah, 'spose so. Who else would send it? I mean, I suppose the twins could've sent it."

"That's rather cruel if they did." Hermione spoke up, "She's been having a hard time. Doing that isn't going to help fix things."

Next to Harry, Rose was chewing on her lip in thought, before Harry looked down. "What's on your mind?"

"Just wondering what to do to get back at the twins."

Ron almost spat out his pumpkin juice as he heard what Rose said. "Get back at the twins? Are you mad?"

"Just slightly." Rose grinned.

"You'd be declaring a prank war." Ron continued, ignoring Rose, "And nobodies won against them."

"Maybe it's time somebody put them in their place then." Harry grinned ruefully.

Ron just shook his head and continued to eat, refusing to even think about pranking his brothers.

Later that night, once everyone was up in their common rooms, Harry decided it was time to investigate the diary further. His sister had given him a strange look as he explained he wanted to go to bed earlier, but didn't press the issue, saying goodnight to her brother whilst she stayed downstairs with Luna doing a potions essay. What Harry wasn't expecting though was to see another letter, this time on his bed. Picking it up, Harry looked it over, only spotting his name written very clearly on the front in neat, cursive writing.

'Harry'

Confused, Harry opened it up and had a quick read through, sitting down at some point as the words hit him straight in the heart.

'My Brave Harry, you deserve not the treatment,

That I have passed to you,

Your eyes are green like emeralds,

Your heart as big as a lion,

Your soul enraptures mine,

You are more than divine,

And yet I know you shall never be mine,

A firefly cannot pass close to the flame,

That your love sets alight inside me,

But you my handsome lion,

Shall always ensnare my heart'

'Your Ginevra'

Setting the letter down, Harry let out a sigh. He couldn't deny the feelings that were raging through his heart. On the one hand, he was still hurt over Ginny's actions, but on the other…the much larger part of his feelings, he was above the clouds. The feeling that he'd realised he had the first time he met Ginny had returned, roaring like a beast within his heart. Smiling, Harry set the letter inside of his trunk, safe and sound, promising himself to speak to Ginny tomorrow. For now, though, he had another task he had to focus on.

Setting the diary on his desk, Harry pulled out a quill and ink and opened the book, thinking for a moment before he dropped a spot on the paper. Once again, the spot was absorbed into the paper, not leaving a single mark on the page.

"What are you?" Harry mused out loud.

Dipping his quill in the ink once more, Harry steeled himself before beginning to write.

'Hello, my name is Harry Potter.'

Harry waited for a moment as the words slowly disappeared, before suddenly words began to appear on the page that he certainly knew he hadn't written.

'Hello Harry Potter, my name is Tom Riddle. What are you doing writing in my diary?'

Harry was stunned for a moment, hardly believing what he was seeing. Snapping out of it, Harry began to write down a reply.

'Somebody tried to flush it down a toilet. The resident ghost fished it out.'

Once again, the words disappeared before new words appeared. 'Well, I'm rather glad that I didn't write my memories down in ink alone. There will always be some who will wish to destroy what is not theirs. Especially when they contain the truth.'

Harry chewed on his lip as he thought of a reply. 'The truth? What do you mean by that Tom?'

'This diary contains my memories from a time when horrible events occurred at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, events that many have tried to hide and cover up. Many would see these memories destroyed.'

A chill went down Harry's spine as he read the words before him. 'That's where I am right now, I'm at Hogwarts. Something called the Chamber of Secrets has been opened, do you know what that is?'

Harry hoped that his gamble would pay off, although part of him also feared what he'd be told. Then the words came up, words he was both hoping for and dreading. 'I know of the Chamber, it opened in my time at Hogwarts too, when I was a fifth year. This is the event I was referring to. Many said it was a legend, but legends don't attack students. When several of my fellow students were attacked, I knew I had to do something. Then a girl was killed, just before I caught the culprit. Professor Dippet, the headmaster, was so ashamed that he didn't stop these events from happening that he tried to cover it all up. The murdered girl was said to have died in an accident and I was given an award for special services to the school. But the one who opened the chamber, the monster who unleashed it all, still roams to this day. In fact, he's still at Hogwarts to this day.'

A sick feeling went through Harry's stomach as he read the words. Nobody had died yet thankfully but it was only a matter of time before someone did. Worse yet, someone at Hogwarts was responsible for it all. 'The monster has already petrified two people, a cat and a ghost. It's happening again Tom! You need to help me! Who opened it last time?'

'I can show you,' Riddle replied, 'I can show you and then you can believe me, I can show you my memories. Then you need to catch the monster and end it once and for all.'

A little uneasy over what Riddle meant, Harry hesitated before staring at the words once more. Steeling himself, Harry wrote out two simple letters. 'OK.'

The diary's pages began to flip through at a rapid pace, as if a great storm was ripping through the room. Suddenly, the pages stopped half way through the month of June, the 13th to be precise. Harry noticed movement in the corner of the page, where the square next to the page's date had turned into a miniscule screen, like that on a muggle television. Leaning in, Harry tried to catch what was happening, but before he knew it, he found himself getting sucked into the book. Letting out a scream of fright, Harry landed on hard cobble flagstones, similar to the ones on the ground floors of Hogwarts. Groaning, Harry sat up and looked around at his surroundings. He looked around and recognised it immediately as the headmaster's office. Except this was an office without Dumbledore's contraptions, or his Phoenix Fawkes. Instead, there was a haggard looking older wizard sitting where Dumbledore would normally sit. Taking fright, Harry froze on the spot, waiting for the questions to start hitting him. Instead, the Wizard just sat there, flicking through pages of a book.

"Um, Sorry Sir, I'll…just be leaving."

The Wizard didn't budge, continuing to sigh and read whatever he was reading. Thinking he could get away without being discovered, Harry just began to walk away slowly before the Wizard finally sat up and looked straight at Harry. Freezing, Harry didn't move, until he noticed that the Wizard was looking straight through him, not at him. A knock at the door made Harry jump in fright.

"Come in!"

The door behind Harry opened, and in stepped a taller boy, a shiny prefect's badge on his chest and a pointy wizards hat in his hands.

"Ah! Riddle, come in my dear boy."

Harry figured that the boy must've been Tom Riddle. He was taller than Harry, but had dark black hair too, although Riddle's didn't shine like Harry's would.

"You wanted to see me, Professor Dippet?" Riddle asked.

The wizard who must've been Headmaster before Dumbledore nodded. "I was just reading the letter you sent me Tom."

The boy rung his hands together as he suddenly got all nervous. "Oh, I see…what conclusion did you come to?'

"I'm sorry Tom…" Dippet frowned, "I can't let you stay here over the holidays. You need to head home…"

"I don't have a home." Riddle said, "I live in…"

"An orphanage. I know Tom. A muggle orphanage I've heard." Dippet sighed.

Riddle nodded slowly. "Please, don't make me go back. Why can't I just stay here?"

Harry felt his heart go out for the young man. He knew that had he and Rose been left at the Dursleys, he'd want to stay at Hogwarts over the summer too. But as it was, he was now in a loving home with family that actually cared about him and his sister.

"I'm sorry Tom. If circumstances were different, I would let you stay, but with these…events occurring…well it's far too dangerous to let you stay."

Riddle thought for a moment before he spoke up. "Sir, if I could stop these attacks…If I could stop who was doing it."

Dippet looked alarmed for a second. "Tom, what do you mean? Do you know who's doing these attacks?"

"No Sir."

Harry sensed that Riddle knew exactly who was doing these attacks, or at least had some suspicion. He felt it in his gut that he knew Riddle was lying.

Dippet himself didn't get that sense though, as he clearly looked disappointed that Tom didn't know anything. Slumping down into his chair again, Dippet sighed as he waved his hand at the door. "You're free to go Tom."

Riddle slid off the chair and departed the Headmasters office rather quickly. Following him, Harry had a feeling that he knew exactly what Riddle was up to. Following him down the revolving staircase and through the halls of Hogwarts, Harry was surprised to not see a single other soul in sight, until their reached the Entrance Hall, where a tall wizard with fiery auburn hair and a long beard called out to Riddle from the marble staircase that ascended into the inner works of the school. "Tom, what are you doing running about so late?"

"I had to go see the headmaster sir."

It was only until they got closer that Harry realised the older wizard was none-other than Dumbledore himself. He was staring at Riddle with the same intense look that he often gave Harry, one that went right through you as if he knew exactly what you were thinking. "Best you be off to bed then Tom, it's not safe to roam the halls at night…not now." Letting out a sigh, Dumbledore ascended up the stairs leaving Riddle and Harry alone.

Thinking that Riddle was about to lead him to some secret area of the school Harry had never seen, the sense of adventure was flowing through Harry's veins once more. He was sorely disappointed then when Riddle led him to the dungeons, past the potion's classroom and the Slytherin dorm entrance. Instead, Riddle led him down a corridor before he came to a stop in front of a door. With none of the sconces lit, Harry could hardly see what was going on, but he thought he saw movement behind the door that Riddle was spying into. For what felt like an hour, Riddle sat there staring through the door as Harry watched and waited with baited breath. Thinking that he would rather be asleep in the real world by now, Harry was pulled out of his thoughts as he suddenly heard a door squeak. Riddle had pulled the door open just a tad, letting light shine through into the hallway. A rather familiar voice bubbled out of the room just then, sending a chill down Harry's spine.

"'right then you, get in the box. C'mon, gotta get yeh out of the castle."

Suddenly, Riddle pulled the door open, stepping in. Harry only had a moment to step in as well before Riddle shut the door with a slam behind him.

"Evening Rubeus."

"Tom? What yer doin' down 'ere then eh?" The rather large boy asked, standing protectively in front of an open box.

Riddle just sneered as he looked at the boy. "I'm going to have to turn you in Rubeus, I can't let these attacks continue."

"What d'yeh…"

"You can't keep monsters as pets Rubeus. I know you meant well, and you were probably just letting it out to exercise. We can't let it kill anyone else though."

The boy began to wave his hands around his shock. "What! It never killed no one! Yer mad Tom!"

"Rubeus…The girls' parents will be here tomorrow. We can't let her murderer live. It's for the best of the school."

Riddle had slowly backed the boy into the corner, the box now behind him as Riddle pointed his wand at the larger student. "I won't let yeh! It wasn't him I'm tellin' yeh! He's innocent!"

"Stand aside Rubeus!" Without warning, Riddle blasted a spell into the box, a horrid screeching emerging as flames sprung from the box. The spell didn't quite do the trick though, as the flames soon died out and a large, hairy creature with razor sharp pincers and elongated legs sprang forth from the box, tripping up Riddle as it bashed through the door and out into the corridor again. Riddle immediately got to his feet again and began to fire off spells down the corridor, but the larger boy tackled him to the ground. "NOOOO!"

That's when the world began to swirl around Harry, darkness turning to light as he felt himself fly through the air before hitting something soft. His eyesight returning to him, Harry realised he'd landed on his bed back in the Gryffindor dormitories, Riddle's diary open on his stomach. Suddenly, the door to the room burst open, making Harry jump and scramble to chuck the diary away as Ron came striding into the room.

"There you are! Rose told me you were having an early night, but I didn't think you were going to be having this early a night! Thought we were gonna have a chess match." Ron said nonchalantly, starting to get himself ready for bed.

"I know who opened the chamber…"

Ron stopped in his tracks as he looked over at Harry. "What?"

"I know who opened the chamber…" Harry repeated, "It was Hagrid."